06-18-2018, 02:30 PM
Joseph Parker: I need more mongrel and to be ruthless
Joseph Parker is talking a more aggressive approach for his coming fight with Britain's Dillian Whyte in London.
Joseph Parker is promising more mongrel and a ruthless attitude for his risky comeback fight against Dillian Whyte.
Parker and Whyte clash in London July 29 (NZT) with the Kiwi looking to bounce back from his points loss to Anthony Joshua where he surrendered his WBO title.
Team Parker's analysis of that loss pointed the finger at a frustrating lack of punches from the 26-year-old Kiwi over the back half of the fight and he's determined to be more busy and aggressive against the dangerous Whyte.
Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker were in a friendly mood when they announced their fight in London.
"We just have to get a bit more mongrel, get a bit more ruthless," Parker told FightHype of the necessary adjustments for a fight that could take him back to the world title mix or send him sliding further down the rankings.
Parker said Whyte's criticism of his efforts against Joshua and suggesting he might keep on using his "running shoes" for this next fight, were part of the Londoner's pre-fight posturing.
"He is trying to lure me, because that's his style of fighting - standing there in the pocket and throwing big punches," Parker said.
"I am going to box smart but when it's time to go to war I will go to war. We are not scared of anyone."
When asked if he could fight toe-to-toe with Whyte as Dereck Chisora did in an exciting 2016 fight won by Whyte in a split decision, Parker didn't hesitate.
"I back myself whatever fight I fight, whether it's the outside or the inside. If I'm Chisora, I believe I knock him out," Parker, who has never been on the canvas, said.
"I believe it will end in the knockout, one punch to the chin ... his chin, not my chin. That would be a nice result in the UK.
"I back my chin but boxing is a funny game where one punch at the right time, no matter how good you are, no matter how good your chin is, changes everything. But, in saying that, I still back myself."
The fight, to be held at the 20,000-seater O2 Arena, sold 12,000 tickets on the first day of public sale.
Parker is facing another big pay day which was a key reason for him taking this fight on reasonably late notice rather than a United States option against Bryant Jennings in mid-April.
Parker is thrilled to have a made his fortune off the back of his unification clash with Joshua but emphasises he wants more rewards in and out of the ring.
"It's a great feeling, it's a blessing," he said of his life-changing fight with Joshua where he earned around $13m for his share of the fight.
"It's a team effort, a lot of people involved to get me where I am today. I was able to buy a house and look after my family.
"But money is one thing, the drive to get back to the top is another thing.
"I just want to be champ again. 'Former' is great but it's not the same as 'hey, champ'. No one says 'hey, former champ'. I think champ sounds better.
"So for me now it's about legacy and what you are going to leave in the heavyweight scene."
- Stuff
Joseph Parker is talking a more aggressive approach for his coming fight with Britain's Dillian Whyte in London.
Joseph Parker is promising more mongrel and a ruthless attitude for his risky comeback fight against Dillian Whyte.
Parker and Whyte clash in London July 29 (NZT) with the Kiwi looking to bounce back from his points loss to Anthony Joshua where he surrendered his WBO title.
Team Parker's analysis of that loss pointed the finger at a frustrating lack of punches from the 26-year-old Kiwi over the back half of the fight and he's determined to be more busy and aggressive against the dangerous Whyte.
Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker were in a friendly mood when they announced their fight in London.
"We just have to get a bit more mongrel, get a bit more ruthless," Parker told FightHype of the necessary adjustments for a fight that could take him back to the world title mix or send him sliding further down the rankings.
Parker said Whyte's criticism of his efforts against Joshua and suggesting he might keep on using his "running shoes" for this next fight, were part of the Londoner's pre-fight posturing.
"He is trying to lure me, because that's his style of fighting - standing there in the pocket and throwing big punches," Parker said.
"I am going to box smart but when it's time to go to war I will go to war. We are not scared of anyone."
When asked if he could fight toe-to-toe with Whyte as Dereck Chisora did in an exciting 2016 fight won by Whyte in a split decision, Parker didn't hesitate.
"I back myself whatever fight I fight, whether it's the outside or the inside. If I'm Chisora, I believe I knock him out," Parker, who has never been on the canvas, said.
"I believe it will end in the knockout, one punch to the chin ... his chin, not my chin. That would be a nice result in the UK.
"I back my chin but boxing is a funny game where one punch at the right time, no matter how good you are, no matter how good your chin is, changes everything. But, in saying that, I still back myself."
The fight, to be held at the 20,000-seater O2 Arena, sold 12,000 tickets on the first day of public sale.
Parker is facing another big pay day which was a key reason for him taking this fight on reasonably late notice rather than a United States option against Bryant Jennings in mid-April.
Parker is thrilled to have a made his fortune off the back of his unification clash with Joshua but emphasises he wants more rewards in and out of the ring.
"It's a great feeling, it's a blessing," he said of his life-changing fight with Joshua where he earned around $13m for his share of the fight.
"It's a team effort, a lot of people involved to get me where I am today. I was able to buy a house and look after my family.
"But money is one thing, the drive to get back to the top is another thing.
"I just want to be champ again. 'Former' is great but it's not the same as 'hey, champ'. No one says 'hey, former champ'. I think champ sounds better.
"So for me now it's about legacy and what you are going to leave in the heavyweight scene."
- Stuff